The Nigeria Professional Football League NPFL entered Matchday 16 with eight league fixtures across eight stadia in Nigeria on Sunday evening as the 2022/2023 season gradually comes to its end.
The race for the Super 6 and battle to avoid relegation intensified as 15 goals was scored with only Enyimba claiming the only away win while Bendel Insurance maintained their unbeaten streak.
In Group A, Enyimba FC of Aba improved their chances of making the Super 6 Play-Offs with a decisive 1-0 away win over El-Kanemi Warriors in Maiduguri.
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The Aba Elephants move up to second position on the log after beating the group’s bottom-placed team, moving them four points behind league leaders Bendel Insurance, who extended their unbeaten streak in the league to 16 games with a 0-0 draw against Gombe United in the other group A match played in Gombe on Sunday.
Remo Stars defeated Akwa United 1-0 in Ikenne to advance significantly toward Super Six qualification after having their points restored by the IMC last Friday.
At the stroke of halfway, defender Nduka Junior scored his first goal of the year from the penalty spot to put the Ikene-based team ahead of their competitors and into third place on the log.
Adeshina Gata’s goal in the 21st minute was cancelled out by Plateau United in the second half in Akure, the adopted home of Kwara United, as the Harmony Boys extended their league winless streak to six games this season and remained just a point above the relegation places with two games left in the campaign.
Lobi Stars kept their Super 6 hope in tact with a 1-0 win over Niger Tornadoes.
Rangers defeated the doomed Wikki Tourists 3-0 in Akwa, while Abia Warriors got a 3-0 victory against Dakkada FC in Umuahia.
In other group B outcomes, Bayelsa United defeated Sunshine Stars 2-1 at home to win their third consecutive game at home for the first time this year, helping the defending Federation Cup champions bounce back from their midweek cup exit.
NPFL MatchDay 16 Results
Abia Warriors 3-0 Dakkada
Bayelsa Utd 2-1 Sunshine
El-Kanemi Warriors 0-1 Enyimba
Rangers 3-0 Wiki Tourists
Gombe 0-0 Bendel Insurance
Kwara Utd 1-1 Plateau Utd
Lobi stars 1-0 Niger Tornadoes
Remo stars 1-0 Akwa Utd
Nasarawa Utd 1-0 Shooting Stars